Swapping column to floor shift steering column 1973 Duster

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Well, you'll want the key in the column so that limits you to '70+. '70 had that weird column interlock thing, so, you probably don't want to deal with that. '71+ should work, but keep in mind that the wiring harnesses changed some, so '73+ would probably be better.

But really you don't need the whole column, all you have to do is either swap out the top collars or convert them. You can remove the shift tube and linkage if you do that, and the rest of the stuff isn't different. There are a couple of "how-to's" depending on your skill level and available equipment for converting what you have

Automatic to Manual Steering Column Conversion "HOW TO"

Modifying Auto on the Column Steering Collars - NO Welding Required!!

Or you can just buy a used set of floor shift collars, they come up all the time. Here's a set on eBay now... (not mine!)
ORIG MOPAR FLOOR SHIFT STEERING COLUMN CONVERSION PARTS 1970 72 73 CUDA CHARGER | eBay

Or, they now reproduce the collars. Not cheap, but cheaper than buying a used floor shift column usually.
Mopar 71 72 73 74 Charger Roadrunner Dart Floor Shift Steering Column Collars | eBay
 

Thanks!
The conversion kit looks like the way to go - I'm not much of a fabricator.
Much appreciated.
 
72bluNblu said:
Well, you'll want the key in the column so that limits you to '70+. '70 had that weird column interlock thing, so, you probably don't want to deal with that. '71+ should work, but keep in mind that the wiring harnesses changed some, so '73+ would probably be better.

But really you don't need the whole column, all you have to do is either swap out the top collars or convert them. You can remove the shift tube and linkage if you do that, and the rest of the stuff isn't different. There are a couple of "how-to's" depending on your skill level and available equipment for converting what you have

Automatic to Manual Steering Column Conversion "HOW TO"

Modifying Auto on the Column Steering Collars - NO Welding Required!!

Or you can just buy a used set of floor shift collars, they come up all the time. Here's a set on eBay now... (not mine!)
ORIG MOPAR FLOOR SHIFT STEERING COLUMN CONVERSION PARTS 1970 72 73 CUDA CHARGER | eBay

Or, they now reproduce the collars. Not cheap, but cheaper than buying a used floor shift column usually.
Mopar 71 72 73 74 Charger Roadrunner Dart Floor Shift Steering Column Collars | eBay
Click to expand...
Hey BluNBlu,
You seem fairly knowledgeable about this conversion, Can I ask a question? I ve purchased the Conversion Collars for my 71. I'm going from Column shift to floor shift automatic. So, the new collar has the Thumb lever, My old collar used the shift lever to tell the switch it was in park so the key could be removed.
so now does the column know the floor shift lever is in park? or not???? Also, Do I remove the shift tube now ??
 
Earl Austin said:
Hey BluNBlu,
You seem fairly knowledgeable about this conversion, Can I ask a question? I ve purchased the Conversion Collars for my 71. I'm going from Column shift to floor shift automatic. So, the new collar has the Thumb lever, My old collar used the shift lever to tell the switch it was in park so the key could be removed.
so now does the column know the floor shift lever is in park? or not???? Also, Do I remove the shift tube now ??
Click to expand...

The column won't "know" if the car is in park or not. That will be up to the floor shifter after the conversion. The thumb lever on the column is there on the floor shift cars to keep you from just pulling the key out whenever, you have to turn the key off and then use the lever to release it.

And yes, you can remove the shift tube completely if you've converted to floor shift.
 
72bluNblu said:
Well, you'll want the key in the column so that limits you to '70+. '70 had that weird column interlock thing, so, you probably don't want to deal with that. '71+ should work, but keep in mind that the wiring harnesses changed some, so '73+ would probably be better.

But really you don't need the whole column, all you have to do is either swap out the top collars or convert them. You can remove the shift tube and linkage if you do that, and the rest of the stuff isn't different. There are a couple of "how-to's" depending on your skill level and available equipment for converting what you have

Automatic to Manual Steering Column Conversion "HOW TO"

Modifying Auto on the Column Steering Collars - NO Welding Required!!

Or you can just buy a used set of floor shift collars, they come up all the time. Here's a set on eBay now... (not mine!)
ORIG MOPAR FLOOR SHIFT STEERING COLUMN CONVERSION PARTS 1970 72 73 CUDA CHARGER | eBay

Or, they now reproduce the collars. Not cheap, but cheaper than buying a used floor shift column usually.
Mopar 71 72 73 74 Charger Roadrunner Dart Floor Shift Steering Column Collars | eBay
Click to expand...
Good morning. I just recently decided to tackle this job on my own instead of spending a ridiculous amount of money on a fancy colunm. I got my colunm pretty much all tore apart. Just had one question about welding the bolt to the center shaft and the cage.

Should the center shift be positioned in the park position when welding the bolt to the shaft and cage. It would have to be or I wouldn't be able to remove the key from the ignition correct? I hope my question makes sense.
 
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I did this complete conversion back in 1994 on the 1973 Slant 6 column automatic bench seat Plymouth Duster I owned at the time. A local mechanic had a 1973 Dart Sport 340 sitting on his lot that had a lot of problems. I bought the entire car, drivetrain and all, for $400!

It had the bucket seats, console, floor shifter, steering column, and everything was even the same color as my car. So it was just a matter of unbolting everything I needed and swapping it into my car. Only tricky part was getting the console and shifter brackets correctly positioned on the floor, then I drilled a couple holes and pop riveted them in place until I got a local welder to weld them in. It took him a while to stop burning through the sheet metal while doing it. But the car looked a lot better afterwards.
 
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